76ers survive Pacers 114-109 as Maxey closes and three starters post double-doubles

The Philadelphia 76ers gave up a 10-point halftime lead in Indianapolis on Wednesday night, then won it back. They beat a short-handed Indiana Pacers team 114-109 to move to 4-1. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, and Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown all finished with double-doubles.

The Pacers were missing several players, Tyrese Haliburton and starting center Ivica Zubac among them, according to Erin Grugan's SB Nation / Liberty Ballers recap. Philadelphia had all five of its starters. The first quarter ended tied after a sloppy start. The Sixers shot 56 percent in the second quarter and went into the break up 10, helped by VJ Edgecombe's 50-foot three at the halftime buzzer. Indiana opened the third with a 17-0 run, and Philadelphia started the fourth down 10.

James sparked the comeback. Early in the fourth he set up two straight Anfernee Simons threes, hit one of his own, and then ran a two-man game with Embiid that ended in an and-one, which cut the gap to two. He finished with 13 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, two blocks and no turnovers. Maxey had struggled with his shot and with turnovers for most of the night, but he took over late. The Associated Press report carried by CBS Sports said he hit two three-pointers in the last minute and a half to put the game away.

Embiid had 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 11 rebounds. With Zubac out, he did most of his damage in the post and from midrange. He scored 14 points in the first half, then saw fewer touches after the break before he came back with key baskets late. Grugan wrote that it was "no coincidence" the offense stalled once the ball stopped going through him. Brown added 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds, four of them offensive. Simons scored 20 off the bench and made 6 of 10 threes. He had come into the game shooting 23.8 percent from deep this season.

For the game, Philadelphia shot 46 percent from the field and 13 of 36 from three. It also went 21 of 24 at the line. Indiana made only 9 of its 36 threes and fell to 2-3.

What it means for Friday against New York

The Sixers have a quick turnaround. They host the New York Knicks on Friday, October 30, on Prime Video. They have already beaten the Knicks once this season, 106-100 at Madison Square Garden in the opener. They have won four of five overall. The only loss came at home to Detroit, 106-93, and they followed it with this road win.

Philadelphia is 2-0 on the road and 2-1 at home so far. Before Indiana they beat Milwaukee 127-116 and Cleveland 114-106. Wednesday's third quarter is the problem to fix. Giving up a 17-0 run to a team missing its top guard and its starting center won't hold up against a full-strength Knicks team. The positives are the balanced scoring and Simons finding his shot, plus Embiid's post game when the offense runs through him. That gives Nick Nurse's group plenty to build on as it tries to make it two wins over New York before the calendar turns to November.

The 76ers team page has full season results and the schedule.